Rinko Inoue's Story

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A strong gust of wind disrupted Rinko from her post. Her eyes blinked open and took in the sight of the lands before her. She could see all the towns and forests, and if she tried hard enough, she could imagine the laughing voices of trainers and Pokemon alike. No Gijinka. Never a Gijinka with them. Their happiness would not be shattered by freaks who suddenly rose up from out of nowhere. They were different, new... A threat.

Lightning illuminated her face, darkened only by the neverending storm cloud looming above the mountains. The thunder - loud, defeaning, yet at the same time, comforting - roared a few seconds after. The tiny droplets of rain followed, and Rinko raised a hand to shield her eyes from the onslaught. She scanned the land again, vibrant and happy just moments prior. Now, it was blurred by a sheet of rain, the brightness it exuded diminished. The land before her looked just like the ruins.

An involuntary smile crept to her lips. The ruins. Very few humans dared step foot in there. Rinko briefly wondered if it was fear; if the people wanted to ignore - deny - the inevitability that all the greatness around them would crumble into dust. Just like the ruins.

"Just like me." Her silent voice was drowned out by the splash of rain on the rocks. It didn't matter. She'd already made her mind. She would make the very dangerous travel to the ruins. Sure, she'd pass by a few towns on the way, but she was certain that she could escape unscathed.

---

Rinko moved quickly in the tall grass, just barely out of sight. She had passed by a couple of wild Pokemon on the way and a few trainers searching for a catch, and both had looked at her with horror. Surely they thought disaster was to come next, as it always did, but Rinko felt nothing coming on so she merely smiled at them and hoped that placated them enough. She reached Bloom Village in record time when she tried a shortcut, and for some incomprehensible reason, she felt drawn to pass by the village. She wasn't sure if a disaster was about to be unleashed on the preppy village, but she let herself be swayed by her feelings nonetheless. If it were a disaster, then at least she'd done her part in alerting the people. She walked quickly, shrugging off the shrewd looks and dodging the occassionally thrown pebbles. The feeling grew as she came closer to a huge man and a gijinka. Weird, she thought, seeing a Gijinka in a place so full of humans. Were the people here kind to them, and was she only hated on because of the image Pokemon like her portrayed?

She watched as the Gijinka slinked back and prepared to attack, and the man offer his peace in a soft, kind voice that oddly reminded her of a beloved one. She knew right then that the man could be trusted, especially if the Eevee by his side was any indication. She walked over to them and waved towards the Gijinka. "It's okay," she said. "You can trust him." She had no idea why she let the words fall from her lips, but she didn't regret saying them in the slightest.

---

Reaper took off her hood and shielded her eyes from the bright sun as she made her exodus from the Pokemon Center. She wore her usual attire, but lacking her gas mask and aviator goggles - some of her two identifying traits. Her client didn't want her presence to be known in the town, especially as many of the citizens of Bloom Village were against the hunting of Gijinkas. Her client, obviously, did not share this view, but hadn't wanted to be ostracized by his neighbours. Apparently, his daughter had begun to befriend a Poochyena Gijinka who made its home at the outskirts of the village. Her client had been aghast and requested her assistance immediately. He offered a handsome pay, so Reaper jumped on her Salamence and flew as quickly as they could to Bloom Village. Shame, really. She'd just began to relax in one of the many bars she favoured in Neon City. The promised amount lured her in, and she found herself in the bright, quiet town.

She released her Gardevoir from her Pokeball. "Scan the surrounding area and look for a girl about six years of age. She might be accompanied by a Gijinka," she ordered.

Gardevoir quickly complied and not a few minutes later piped up with the results. "The girl is at the home of a friend. No Gijinka nearby," Gardevoir answered via her telepathic abilities. Reaper sighed, not wanting to spend another useless minute in the village waiting for the kid to sneak out. She didn't have to wait though, as Gardevoir's voice echoed in her mind again. "There are two Gijinkas - a Mandibuzz and an Absol - nearby although they are not associated with the girl."

Instantly, a devilish smirk found its way on Reaper's lips. "It doesn't matter. I'm sure I can find someone in G-Prison who'd pay a hefty amount for them." She nodded for Gardevoir to lead the way, and released Jolteon just in case the Gijinkas would be ready when they arrived. They should be, or else it wouldn't be a challenge at all.

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Rinko watched as the Mandibuzz Gijinka slackened her grip on her weapon and her eyes widened in surprise. She really hadn't expected for the Gijinka to trust her, especially as she was merely a stranger. Still, now that she had, Rinko felt a certain wave of responsibility for her. "My name is Rinko," she introduced, holding her hand out. She looked over her shoulder at the retreating form of the huge man and his Eevee. "I think I might be joining the two of you." After all, if the man turned out to be a Hunter or someone prejudiced against Gijinkas and the Mandibuzz found herself captive... Well, Rinko couldn't have that on her conscience. She turned to the man and called out, "You don't mind having two Gijinkas in your home, do you?"

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Reaper rounded the corner and saw them. A lumbering man with his Eevee, a Mandibuzz Gijinka with her weapon lowered, and an Absol Gijinka without a weapon drawn. It was easy, way too easy. It didn't feel right. Reaper shrugged. Whatever. She liked a challenge. "Make our presence known," she ordered. Her Jolteon quickly complied and shot a weak Thunderbolt near the group. She'd be making herself known and probably destroying her chances of completing her task at hand, but the sight of not one, but two capable and powerful Gijinkas excited her. The Poochyena Gijinka could wait. Capturing that one would be as easy as pie. These two, however... She grinned as she approached them. "Tut, tut. Leaving so soon?"

---

Rinko barely had enough time to jump out of the way as the Thunderbolt struck. Her eyes quickly moved to the owner of the attack. The Jolteon glared at them from beside his master. Rinko didn't have to be a genius to know who it was. The green hair and the Jolteon was enough of an indication. "So this was the disaster I felt from before," she muttered to no one but herself. She summoned her trusty weapon, her war scythe, and gave it an experimental slash to the air. She saw more of the people move farther away, some even going as far as to run for help. She looked over to Kenshin. "Do you really want to involve yourself in this? She's no ordinary hunter." At the last part, Rinko stared straight ahead at Reaper's direction, her grip on her scythe tightening.

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The two Gijinkas gripped their weapons and the man looked about ready for the battle of his life. Reaper couldn't help the almost maniacal grin on her face. She scanned the small crowd that had gathered around them and spread her arms as though preaching. "Do I really want to do this here? What's stopping me from showing such an oblivious town the true horror Gijinkas bring?" She shot a finger towards the two Gijinkas, watching as the Mandibuzz Gijinka desperately tried to keep herself from shaking, and the Absol Gijinka looking for all the world as if she regretted her own existence. "You people want to protect them? Let me show you what happens when you do so!" She nodded wordlessly towards her Jolteon, who shot a stronger Thunderbolt towards the group.

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Rinko jumped out of the way as Miyuki countered the Thunderbolt, and cleared the resulting fog with a slash of her scythe. The Jolteon looked ready to attack again, and judging by Reaper's confident demeanor, the next attack would be more powerful than the one before. She looked over to Miyuki and gestured with her free hand to their common enemy. "We'll need to work together. Are you ready?" This was her fault, all her fault. She should have just ignored her gut and brought her disastrous self somewhere else. She gripped her scythe tighter and lunged towards Jolteon, using Night Slash. Fix this. She needed to fix it.

---

The Mandibuzz countered her Jolteon's attack and Reaper snarled. The Gijinka posed a threat. She was powerful. And now that the other Gijinka joined in, the odds were turned against her. She could not let things go out of hand. The air shifted, and the apparent camaraderie between her opponents grew. Jolteon needed help, or else he would suffer at the hands of such vile creatures. Unacceptable. Reaper reached towards her belt and pulled out another Pokeball, throwing it in the air. Salamence soared from the air and shielded Jolteon from the combined force of Night Slash and Dark Pulse. "Is that all you've got?" Salamence shook off the attacks and spread his wings as if backing up Reaper's challenge.

---

Rinko had only ever felt fear twice in her life before. The first one was when she was hunted down by a huge crowd of hunters, complete with torches and pitchforks. The second one was when the hunters publicly murdered Hana. But this, standing in front of a Salamence and a Jolteon, and facing one of the most revered hunters of their time... Rinko felt her entire body shake. She could see her grip on the scythe slackening, watching it quiver. She turned to Miyuki and saw that the Mandibuzz felt the same fear that she did.

"She has more." That, she could say with certainty. She slid closer to Miyuki and said in a harsh whisper, "We can't defeat her. It isn't possible right now. Even if we overpower her Pokemon, she could choose to attack someone from around here. We'd be compromised." Her gaze flitted to the hunter. "For now, we'll have to run." She followed Miyuki's lead and sent a flurry of attack towards the two Pokemon.

---

Reaper released a satisfied sigh at the sight of the two Gijinkas cowering in fear. How many times had those same looks of terror been thrown her way? They'd been too many to count. The Gijinkas feared and loathed her. The people regarded her with both awe and terror. Her Pokemon, her ever loyal companions, turned a blind eye towards her inhumanity. While Reaper didn't really hate Gijinkas, she could admit that they were powerful. And powerful opponents had always served like some sort of catnip towards Reaper. She just needed to be surrounded by them... And to slaughter them all.

What would her parents think of her should they see her now? They'd probably disown her on the spot. Ha. It didn't matter. The only time she would meet them again would be if they were her targets. If that happened, well... Familial blood would be spilled. Today, though, the blood spilt would be of the Gijinkas. "Dodge it!" Her Pokemon did as ordered, but her Salamence took a critical hit from one of the attacks. "Dammit! Jolteon, climb up Salamence's back. Salamence, combine Fly and Zen Headbutt. Jolteon, combine Quick Attack and Thunder Fang. It's time to end this."